Dispenser for tooth powder and the like



Dec. 21, 1948. R. w. HOPKINS DISPENSER FOR TOOTH POWDER AND THE LIKE Filed June 24, 1.946

FIG-.1.

INVENTOR. ,1 Richard \N. 151131316115 BY 2 i K war w ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 21, 1948 DISPENSER FOR 'roo'rn POWDER AND THE'LIKE Richard W. Hopkins, Troy, N. Y.

Application June 24, 1946, Serial No. 678,357

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispensing container, and while it is particularly adapted for use as a container and dispenser for tooth powder and the like, it will be understood that it may be used for dispensing other powdered materials and be of any suitable size according to the type of powdered material to be stored in the container and dispensed therefrom.

One object or the invention is to provide a dispensing container in which a relatively large quantity of powdered material may be stored and measured quantities of the powdered material discharged through an outlet at the bottom of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container having an outlet at its bottom so shaped and of such dimensions that when a toothbrush is placed under the outlet and the dispensing means actuated, a measured quantity of powder will be discharged from the container and deposited on the brush in such relation to the brush that it will all remain upon the brush in position for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide.

a dispensing container having an outlet so formed that a toothbrush will be guided into position under the outlet and held in position for deposit of the powder onto the brush.

Another object of the invention is'to provide the container with dispensing means so formed that only a predetermined quantity of powder will be discharged, the dispensing means having associated with it means for agitating powder in the container, and for scraping walls of the container and measuring chamber during operation of the dispensing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a measuring chamber "and has associated with it gates or closure plates slidably mounted and moved in opposite'directions when an actuating lever is moved to close agate at the top of the chamber and open a gate at the bottom of the chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container so constructed that a brush may be held under the outlet with one hand and the dispensing means operated with the other hand.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section taken vertically through the improved dispensing container, and showing a toothbrush in position for receiving powder from the container.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken vertically through the dispensing container along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation looking at one side of the dispensing container, parts being broken mg! in which is mounted a hopper 2.

away to disclose preferred detail-s of a container particularly well adapted to rest upon a flat surface.

Fig. i is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, of the lower gate or plate for controlling flow of powder from the measuring chamber.

This improved dispensing container has a cas- The casing-and the hopper may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, one wall 3 of the hopper preferably constituting a support, having its lower edge folded inwardly and upwardly to form a reinforcing flange d. At the other side of the casing are corner posts or rods 5 which cooperate with the plate or wall 3 to support the casing upon a shelf or the like. It will be understood that, if so desired, the casing may be provided with means for hanging it against a wall or from a suitable overhead support.

The hopper tapers downwardly, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and at its bottom or lower end is formed with an outlet throat or neck 6 which is of rectangular shape and open at its upper and lower ends. The side walls of the chamber '6 and the end wall 8 are of greater depth than the end wall 9, and the lower end portion of the end wall 8 is bent to form a lip it which is curved outwardly as shown in Figure 1. Along the side walls I are formed upper and lower internal tracks or grooves H and 52 into which side edge portions of upper and lower gates or plates l3 and it formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, and against inner surfaces of the end walls '8 and 9 are preferably mounted felt pads iii and 15 of such size that their edges are spaced from edges of the side walls. The gates or plates are slidable through slots ll and is formed in the end wall 8 and from the plates extend rods l9 and it which pass through openings 2! and 22 formed. in the wall 3, and have their outer ends formed with upstanding fiat-sided heads 23 and 24 respectively. A lever 25 is pivoted as at 33, to the outer end of a rod 26 carried by the wall 8 and projecting outwardly through an opening 21 formed in the Wall 3, and upper and lower portions of the lever are formed with slots 28 and 29 to receive pins 3!! and 3! by means of which the heads of the rods l9 and 20 are con 3 nected with the lever. A finger hold or abutment 32 may be formed at the upper end of the lever and when this finger hold is grasped or engaged, and the lever swung about the pin which connects it with the rod 26, the upper gate or door I 3 will be shifted inwardly towards a closed position and the lower gate or plate 94 will be shifted outwardly to an opened position. A spring 34 coiled about the rod 19 between its head 23 and the wall 3 yieldably holds the dispensing mechanism in a normal position with the upper gate open and the lower gate closed, and when the gates are in this normal position powder in the hopper may fill the measuring chamber 35 defined by the portion of the throat or neck 6 between the grooves l l and [2. By rapidly moving the lever the upper gate will be quickly moved to a closed position and the lower gate opened at equal speed. Therefore powder of only substantially the capacity of the measuring chamber will bedischarged when the lower gate is opened. Since the toothbrush 36 is disposed under the throat or neck with its bristles between the side walls I and end bristles abutting the lip of tongue 58 all of the powder discharged from the chamber 35 will fall upon the bristles and waste of powder will be avoided. Yokes 31 and 38 are carried by the two gates orplates l3 and M' respectively,

and project upwardly from their inner ends, and these yokes are so shaped that when the gates are shifted longitudinally their side arms will scrape along side walls of the hopper and the measuring chamber. Therefore all powder will be scraped loose from portions of the walls along which the yokes move and in addition the yokes will'serve as agitators for preventing caking of the powder. When the yoke 88 reaches ends of the measuring chamber 35 it fits snugly about the pads 15 and i6 and powder will be wiped from it so that powder will be prevented from accumulating upon the bridge and side arms of this yoke and interfering with complete opening and closing movement of the doors.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container comprising a hopper provided with a measuring chamber at its bottom, open at upper and lower ends; upper and lower gates for the chamber slidable to open and closed positions; actuating means connected with the gates for moving the same in opposite directions to close the upper gate as the lower gate is opened and vice versa; and members carried by the gates for scraping the walls of the hopper and the chamber as the gates are moved.

2. A dispensing container comprising a hopper provided with a measuring chamber at its bottom, open at upper and lower ends; upper and lower gates for the chamber slidable longitudinally to opened and closed positions; actuating means for 4 moving the gates in opposite directions to close the upper gate as the lower gate is opened, and vice versa; and a member carried by the lower gate for scraping the walls of the measuring chamber as the lower gate is moved.

3. A dispensing container comprising a hopper provided with a depending threat at its bottom, open at upper and lower ends, and including side walls provided with paralleling upper and lower tracks, and end walls; plates slidable longitudinally on the tracks constituting upper and lower gates for a measuring chamber defined by the space in the throat between the tracks; resilient pads secured to the inner faces of said end walls, disposed with their side edges spaced from the side walls, and their upper margins spaced from the zone of travel of said upper gate; and a yoke carried by the inner end portion of the lower gate transversely thereof and having side arms located for scraping engagement with the opposite side walls of the measuring chamber and a bridge located for scraping engagement with the bottom of said upper gate.

4. A dispensing container comprising a hopper including a throat extending downwardly from its bottom, the throat being open at the upper and lower ends and having side walls and end walls, the side walls having inner faces provided with longitudinally extending upper and lower grooves constituting tracks, pads mounted against inner surfaces of the end walls between the upper'and lower grooves and having their side edges spaced from edges of the said side walls, upper and lower plates slidably mounted in the grooves and passing through slots formed through one end wall of the throat and constituting gates for a measuring chamber defined by the portion of the throat between the said grooves, actuating rods extending from the outer ends of said plates and outwardly from the throat, and an upright scraper member on the end of said lower plate opposite its respective actuating rod for scraping engagement with opposite walls of the side walls of the measuring chamber and with the side edges of said pads.

RICHARD W. HOPKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS of record in the Eddy June 10, 1941 

